diff --git a/key-bindings.c b/key-bindings.c
index 55f12bc83..2f44cb218 100644
--- a/key-bindings.c
+++ b/key-bindings.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* $OpenBSD: key-bindings.c,v 1.190 2026/07/22 19:23:59 nicm Exp $ */
+/* $OpenBSD: key-bindings.c,v 1.191 2026/08/05 12:23:25 nicm Exp $ */
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2007 Nicholas Marriott <nicholas.marriott@gmail.com>
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ key_bindings_init(void)
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode g { command-prompt -P -p'(goto line)' { send -X goto-line -- '%%' } }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode n { send -X search-again }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode q { send -X cancel }",
-		"bind -Tcopy-mode r { send -X refresh-toggle }",
+		"bind -Tcopy-mode r { send -X refresh-now }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode t { command-prompt -P -1p'(jump to forward)' { send -X jump-to-forward -- '%%' } }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode Home { send -X start-of-line }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode End { send -X end-of-line }",
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ key_bindings_init(void)
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi n { send -X search-again }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi o { send -X other-end }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi q { send -X cancel }",
-		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi r { send -X refresh-toggle }",
+		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi r { send -X refresh-now }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi t { command-prompt -P -1p'(jump to forward)' { send -X jump-to-forward -- '%%' } }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi v { send -X rectangle-toggle }",
 		"bind -Tcopy-mode-vi w { send -X next-word }",
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index b347d2f5e..d6ecd24b9 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.\" $OpenBSD: tmux.1,v 1.1153 2026/08/05 07:31:08 nicm Exp $
+.\" $OpenBSD: tmux.1,v 1.1154 2026/08/05 12:23:25 nicm Exp $
 .\"
 .\" Copyright (c) 2007 Nicholas Marriott <nicholas.marriott@gmail.com>
 .\"
@@ -2319,10 +2319,14 @@ the bottom and is paused while a selection is in progress.
 .Xc
 Turn off automatic refresh of the content from the pane.
 .It Xo
-.Ic refresh\-toggle
+.Ic refresh\-now
 (vi: r)
 (emacs: r)
 .Xc
+Refresh the content from the pane once.
+.It Xo
+.Ic refresh\-toggle
+.Xc
 Toggle automatic refresh of the content from the pane.
 .It Xo
 .Ic scroll\-bottom
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index dabb2a99c..716a0f037 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* $OpenBSD: window-copy.c,v 1.424 2026/07/29 17:42:56 nicm Exp $ */
+/* $OpenBSD: window-copy.c,v 1.425 2026/08/05 12:23:25 nicm Exp $ */
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2007 Nicholas Marriott <nicholas.marriott@gmail.com>
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ static void	window_copy_redraw_screen(struct window_mode_entry *);
 static void	window_copy_do_refresh(struct window_mode_entry *, int);
 static void	window_copy_refresh_timer(int, short, void *);
 static void	window_copy_refresh_arm(struct window_mode_entry *);
+static int	window_copy_refresh_allowed(struct window_mode_entry *);
 static void	window_copy_refresh_start(struct window_mode_entry *);
 static void	window_copy_refresh_stop(struct window_mode_entry *);
 static void	window_copy_style_changed(struct window_mode_entry *);
@@ -3036,6 +3037,20 @@ window_copy_refresh_arm(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
 		evtimer_add(&data->refresh_timer, &tv);
 }
 
+static int
+window_copy_refresh_allowed(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
+{
+	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wme->data;
+
+	/*
+	 * Do not refresh a view of another pane (copy-mode -s): the source may
+	 * disappear and changes are not tracked on this pane.
+	 */
+	if (data->viewmode || wme->swp != wme->wp)
+		return (0);
+	return (1);
+}
+
 static void
 window_copy_refresh_timer(__unused int fd, __unused short events, void *arg)
 {
@@ -3070,11 +3085,7 @@ window_copy_refresh_start(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
 {
 	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wme->data;
 
-	/*
-	 * Do not refresh a view of another pane (copy-mode -s): the source may
-	 * disappear and changes are not tracked on this pane.
-	 */
-	if (data->viewmode || wme->swp != wme->wp || data->refresh_active)
+	if (!window_copy_refresh_allowed(wme) || data->refresh_active)
 		return;
 	data->refresh_active = 1;
 	window_copy_refresh_arm(wme);
@@ -3089,6 +3100,25 @@ window_copy_refresh_stop(struct window_mode_entry *wme)
 	evtimer_del(&data->refresh_timer);
 }
 
+static enum window_copy_cmd_action
+window_copy_cmd_refresh_now(struct window_copy_cmd_state *cs)
+{
+	struct window_mode_entry		*wme = cs->wme;
+	struct window_copy_mode_data	*data = wme->data;
+	struct window_pane		*wp = wme->wp;
+	int				 follow;
+
+	if (!window_copy_refresh_allowed(wme))
+		return (WINDOW_COPY_CMD_NOTHING);
+
+	follow = (data->oy == 0 &&
+	    data->cy == screen_size_y(&data->screen) - 1);
+	window_copy_do_refresh(wme, follow);
+	wp->flags &= ~PANE_UNSEENCHANGES;
+
+	return (WINDOW_COPY_CMD_REDRAW);
+}
+
 static enum window_copy_cmd_action
 window_copy_cmd_refresh_on(struct window_copy_cmd_state *cs)
 {
@@ -3631,6 +3661,12 @@ static const struct {
 	  .clear = WINDOW_COPY_CMD_CLEAR_NEVER,
 	  .f = window_copy_cmd_refresh_off
 	},
+	{ .command = "refresh-now",
+	  .args = { "", 0, 0, NULL },
+	  .flags = WINDOW_COPY_CMD_FLAG_READONLY,
+	  .clear = WINDOW_COPY_CMD_CLEAR_NEVER,
+	  .f = window_copy_cmd_refresh_now
+	},
 	{ .command = "refresh-toggle",
 	  .args = { "", 0, 0, NULL },
 	  .flags = WINDOW_COPY_CMD_FLAG_READONLY,